Self-propelled projectile



J. R. JASSE SELF-PROPELLED PROJECTILE July 12, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 2. 195s \wu mw y rml li mw NH n @n T l! m l-- m m Nm L I/ M 4 Nm N wm mm m .om NH July 12, 1960 J. R. JASSE SELF-PROPELLED PROJECTILE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 2. 195e w... r, n f 2 A Y -{States SELF-PROPELLED rnoxncrmi Joseph Raymond Jasse, Paris, France, assignor to Hotchkiss-Brandt, Paris, France, a French body corporate The present invention relates to projectiles having a self-propelling charge capable of being launched or red in a tube by an auxiliary launching charge of the type in which the nozzle provided at the rearofthe body o f the projectile for the ejection of the propelling gases is provided with an ejectable obturating and igniting device adaptedto avoid a premature firing o f the selfpropelling charge by the launching charge, said device, which is ejected after the firing of the self-propelling charge,V being maintained in position by a shearing ring and being provided with a passageway iilled with a delay charge permitting the automatic tiring of the self-propelling charge -by the launching charge with a suitabledelay.

The object of the invention is to provide a projectile of the aforementioned type so improved as to permit, as desired, the tiring of the projectile'with or without self-propulsion.

The projectile of the invention is so arranged that the delay charge passagewayof said ejectable device for obturating the nozzle and igniting the self-propelling charge communicates with the rear face ofsaid device through at least one igniting passageway on which is disposed an adjustable movable obturator member which permits, as desired, either opening the igniting passageway for igniting the self-propelling charge through the medium of said delay charge or closing the igniting pas'- 3 sageway for-avoiding saidignition. Y

In the first case, the self-propelling charge is ignited `after a certain delay by the launching charge and its action is added to that of the launching charge, whereas in the second case self-propulsion of the projectiledoes not occur.

Further features and advantages of the inventionwill be apparent from the ensuing description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, to which Vthe invention is in no =way limited.

In the drawings: Y

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, with parts cut away, of a projectile which embodies the invention, has stabilizingflns and forms a rocketi Fig, 2 is a longitudinal sectional".`view of the rear part of the projectile, this view being on an enlarged scale relative to that of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along. line 3 3 of Fig. 2 on.a still 'further` enlarged scale, of the ejectable obturating and igniting device;

Fig. 4 is a rear view of the device shown in Fig. 3 and,

Fig. 5 is an end view of the forward endvof the rear cartridge carrier on the same scale as Fig. 2."

In the illustrated embodiment, the invention is applied to a rocket adapted to be red in a smooth-bore tube.

'Iliisrocket comprises a substantially conical body 1 having Van attached ogival head 5-1 carrying aV conventional combined fuze-relay sleeve F -with a tiring pin,

detonator and, preferably,`a"'rs t powder charge contained in a sleeve.

atei t YPatented July 12, 1960 Directly screwed in the rear of the body 1 is a nozzle T which is closed by an ejectable obturating and igniting device P on which is attached a iin arrangement Q capable of receiving an axial tubular tail R carrying an auxiliary launching charge S (Figs. 1 and 2).

Fitted in this rear part of the body 1 in fron-t of the nozzle T is a longitudinal, thin, pressed metalsheath of eXtra-mild steel surrounded by a-n athermanous layer 14 (Fig. 2). The annular space between the body 1 and the sheath (.12, 14) isV iilled with a useful charge,

, for example an explosive 15.

Disposedin the sheath 12, 14 is a tubular propelling charge `17 adapted to burn only on its inner face 1S, its outer face'being coated with a varnish 19 which prevents cordbustion of the outer face.

` Disposed forward of the charge 17 is an ignitingpellet or tablet22 against which bears a tube 23 which is disposed in the central bore of the charge 17 and' is adapted to direct to the igniting tablet the flame issuing from the tiring device constituted by the obturating and igniting device P. This tube is iitted in the ring 24 mounted in the nozzle T and bears against the device P.

This nozzle T consists of two parts: the graphite nozzle ring 24 and the nozzle body 26 which is divergent and is screwed in the rear screwthreaded end of the body 1. Screwed on the nozzle body 26 is the tubular hub 52 carrying fins 53 and forming with the latter a n arrangement Q.

The obturating and igniting device P is disposed in the body 26. It comprises a body 54bearing against the body 26 through the medium of a shoulder 55. It is held in position in the body 26 and sealed by a readily shearable ring 56 composed of lead or like material which is disposed in a recess in the body 26 and between the body 54 and a nut 57 screw-threadedly engaged in the latter. In this way there is obtained perfect fluidtightness and an attachment which requires a substantially constant shear Iforce when the obturating device P is ejected.

Screw-threadedly engaged in the body 54 (Fig. 3) is,

iirstly, a delay charge carrier 58 of preferably plastic material such as a superpolyamide and having an axial passageway 58a filled with a time delay powder charge 59, and, secondly, an igniting relay 60 containing a charge of a black igniting powder 61.

lFluid tightness is obtained by means of a ilange 62 of the relay 60, which ange is Welded in the cold state to the obturating device body and by a disc 63 also welded in position in the cold state.

The delay device 59 constituted by the powder terminates at the rear in an enlarged head 64 having a large ignition area and disposed in a cavity 65 containing a certain amount of black powder -66 which is disposed loosely therein or made to adhere to thewall of the cavity by a varnish or is in the form of aportion of a fuse wick.

The cavity 65 communicates With the rear transverse face `67 4of the obturating device body through two longitudinal passageways 68 which are symmetrical relative to the longitudinal axis X-X of the projectile (Pig. 3).

Each of these passageways 68, which are preferably v tance from the longitudinal axis X--X as the passageways 68, two cylindre-conical apertures 74 which, for a given angular position of this disc, coincide with the passageways y68, arotation-of thedisc through .90 permittin-g closure of'the passageways 68 by the disc.

The two-extreme angular positions-of the disc 70 -are determined by a flug or pin .75 (Figs. 3 and 4) carried by the body 54 and against which moves a recess 76 formed in the disc 70. The open condition of theg-passageways 68 corresponds -to the abutrnentiof'vthe pin 75 against the end a of the recess 76, whereas ythe fully closed condition of the passageways 68 corresponds `to the abutment-of the pin against the other end b of the l recess 76.

For the -purpose -of rotating the disc 70, the llatter is provided on its 'rear'outer face with a diametral rib 77 adapted to be actuated by the extensionor tail R.

The tail R consists of atube 78 vprovided with apertures 79 and engaged in the bore 80 formed in the Ahub 52 of the fin arrangement Q in which it is held in a central position at 81 and 82. A resilient split ring 83 limits the penetration of the tube 78 which is held in axial position by shearing pins 84 which-extend through the hub 52 and engage a recess 85 formed in theouter face of the tube 78.

The latter is closed at-its forward end by a plug 86 (Figs. 2 and 5) which is screwthreadedly engaged in the tube at S7. Formed in the forward face of the plug is an axial cylindre-conical blind hole 88 and two diametrally opposed apertures S9 permitting introduction of two wrench pins for screwing the plug.

For the purpose of keying the rib 77 of the disc70 relative to the tail R and directing the flames emanating from the launching cartridge (not shown in the drawing) toward the apertures '74 of the d'isc 70, there are provided, preferably in planes perpendicular to one another, on the one hand, recesses 90 in both thel forward end of the tube 78 and the plug 86, the bases of these recesses being disposed obliquely and rearwardly diver-ging relative to the axis X-X (Fig. 2) and, on the otherhand, recesses 91 situated in yline with the recesses 90 and formed in the peripheral wall of the plug 86 formed by the hole 89. The diameter of the latter is less than the length of the rib 77 ofthe disc 70 and the width of this rib is very slightly less than the width of therecesses 90 and 91 so that this rib 77 is capable of being engaged in one of two pairs of diametrally opposed recesses '90 and 91 so that the disc 7.0 iskeyed to the tail R.

It will be observed that't-he oblique-recesses 90 ,cornmunicate at their periphery with an inner recess '-92 formed in the hub 52 of the iin arrangementQ and this recess 92 communicates with the exterior of the hub between the fins 53 by way of two radial apertures .93.

The projectile operates in the following manner:

First casa- Firing with the self-propelling charge- After furnishing the tail R with the launching charge S, and having placed it in position, this tail R is rotated until the obturating disc 7-0 is brought-to the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, if it is not already in' this position, and the apertures 74 coincide with the passageways 68. The rocket -unit is thenplaced in a smooth-bore launching tube and the launching charge .S is iired by conventional means.

As soon as this launching charge is fired, the tail R separates from the rocket proper under the effect of the yacceleration imparted thereto by the gases of this charge, .since this acceleration causes the pins 84 to shear.

Meanwhile, the launching chargegases issue from the apertures 79 in the tube 78 and from the .apertures u93 -and the recess 92 of the hub 52 ofthe iin arrangement Q and reach, by passing through the recesses 90, the apertures 74 of the disc 70 and in passing through these aperftures ignite the powder 66 which fills orlinesfthe passageways 68 and the cavity 65 of the obturating and ,igniting device .1. .In consequence, the large end-.tof the 4 head 64 of the delay charge 59 is ignited and, through the medium of this charge, the combustion is propagated with the desired delay to the igniting charge 61. The arnes produced ll the axial tube Z3 and ignite the pellet 22 which ignites the self-propelling charge 17.

It will be observed that, .owing to the fact that the delay charge `carrier 58 iS composed .of .a lplastic material, its coecient of expansion is similar to that of the powder 59. In this way, separation of the bead or train of :blank :powder and consequent short-circniting -under the effect of .differences of expansion during temperature variations during stockage are avoided.

As soonfas the self-,propelling charge 17 is ignited the pressure due to the vgases emanating from this charge and filling the axial cavity '18 ejects the obturating and igniting device P by shearing the lead ring 56 which clears the way in the divergent member 26 of the nozzle T and thenceforthpermitsthe self-propelling gases to propel the rocket-by their reaction `in the ,knownmannen .Second caser-Launching vthe projectile without self- Vpropulson.---It -is .merely necessary to turn the disc 70 through about the axis X-X in the direction of .arrow f (Fig. 4) by means of the tail R so that the apertures 74 of this disecease to coincide with the passageways '68 with theresult that, .when launching the projectile, the gases emanating from the launching charge S are vunable to ignite the powder 66 lling or lining the passageways 68 and the cavity 65. Thus, the self-propelling charge 117 cannot ignite vand the trajectory of the projectile depends ,solely on the force initially imparted thereto by the auxiliary launching charge S when launchmg.

Although specific-.embodiments of the invention have beendescribed, many modications and changes may be made therein without departing from the-scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having now described my-invention what I claim as new andl desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

v1. Ina projectile provided with a self-propelling charge .and capable of being launched by an auxiliary launching charge: .a rear .nozzle for ejecting the gases produced by combustion of theself-propelling charge and an eject- Aable device .disposed in the nozzle for obturating ythe Anozzle vin thecourse of the launching of the projectile by the launching charge .and Yfor igniting the self-propelling vcharge by means ofthe launching charge, said device comprisinga body, a shearing member fixing the .body in the nozzle, said body having a longitudinal igniting passageway and a transverse rear face, a delay charge viilling said passageway and permitting automatic ignition, with a predetermined delay, of the self-propelling lcharge by the launchingcharge, said passageway communicating With'said rear lface of the body through at least one ignition aperture, and a movable and adjustable obturator member against said rear face and :permitting selectivelyclosing .said aperture for launching said projectile without self-propulsion and uncovering said aperture for ignition of the self-propelling charge.

2. In `a .projectile provided with a self-propelling charge and .capable of beinglaunched by an auxiliary launching charge: a rear nozzle for ejecting the gases produced .by rcombustion of the self-propelling charge and an ejectable device disposedinthe, nozzle for obturating the nozzle in the course of :the launching` of the projectile by the launching charge andfor igniting. the self-propelling charge by means of the launching charge, said device compris- .in g a body, a shearing member fixing the body in the nozzle, said bodyhaving a longitudinal igniting passageway and a transverse rear face, a delay charge filling said passageway andpermitting automatic ignition, with a .predetermined delay, .of .the self-propelling charge by the launching charge, said passageway communicating with said rearxface of the body through at -least one member which is positioned against .said ,rear faoeand permits selectively closing said aperture for launching said projectile without self-propulsion and uncovering said aperture for ignition of the self-propelling charge, said obturator member consisting of a disc which is rotatable around an axis and having as many apertures as said body comprises ignition apertures, the apertures of the body and of the disc being located at the same distance from said axis of rotation of the disc and a nut threadedly engaged on the body of said device to maintain the disc against the rear face of the body.

3. In a projectile provided with a self-propelling charge and capable of being launched by an auxiliary launching charge: a rear nozzle for ejecting the gases produced by combustion of the self-propelling charge; an ejectable device disposed in the nozzle for obturating the nozzle in the course of the launching of the projectile by the launching charge and for igniting the self-propelling charge by means of the launching charge, said device comprising a body, a shearing member fixing the body in the nozzle, said body having a longitudinal igniting passageway and a transverse rear face, a delay charge iilling said passageway and permitting automatic ignition, with a predetermined delay, of the self-propelling charge by the launching charge, said passageway communicating with said rear face of the body through at least one ignition aperture, and a movable and adjustable obturator member which is positioned against said rearV face and permits selectively closing said aperture forV launching said projectile without self-propulsion and uncovering said aperture for ignition of the self-propelling charge, lsaid obturator member consisting of a disc which is rotatable around an axis and is provided with as many apertures as said body comprises ignition apertures, all of said apertures being located at the same distance from said axis, said obturator member including onits rear face a driving projection; and a vdetachable tail at the rear of said device and adapted to receive the auxiliary launching charge of the projectile, the tail having a longitudinal axis coinciding with the-axis of rotaton of the disc and l a plug to close the forward end of said tail, said plug and tail comprising recesses for insuring', onthe one hand, the keying of the disc relative to the tail by engagement of said projection in the recess of the` plug so as to permit turning the disc by manually turning the tail and, on the other hand, access of the gases emanating from the launching charge to said ignition aperture of said device.

4. In a projectile provided with a self-propelling charge and capable of being launched by an auxiliary launching charge: a rear nozzle for ejecting the gases produced by combustion of the self-propelling charge, -and an ejectable device disposed in the nozzle for obturating the nozzle in the course of the launching of the pro- I jectile by the launching charge and for ignitingV the selfpropelling charge by means of the launching charge, said device comprising a body, a shearing memberrixing the body in the nozzle, said body having a rear'transverse face and including a delay charge carrier composed of plastic material provided with a longitudinal ignition passageway which communicates with said rear face of the body through at least one ignition aperture, a charge of black powder tilling said passageway and forming an ignition delay between the launching charge and the self-propelling charge, the coeliicient of expansion of the plastic material being substantially equal to that of said black powder so as to avoid creation of any escape path capable of causing anundesired ignition between the delay charge carrier and said powder charge due to variations in the surrounding temperature, and a movable and adjustable obturator member against said rear face and permitting selectively closing said aperture for launching said projectile without self-propulsion and uncovering said aperture for ignition of the self-propelling charge.

5. In a projectile provided with a self-propelling charge and capable of being launched by an auxiliary launching charge: a rear nozzle for ejecting the gases produced by combustion of the self-propelling charge, and an ejectable device disposed in the nozzle for obturating the nozzle in the courseV of the launching `of the projectile by the launching charge and for igniting the selfpropelling charge by means ofthe launching charge,

said device comprising a body, a shearing member fixing the body in the nozzle, said body having a rear transverse faceVa forward ignition passageway and a rear cavity with which said passageway communicates, said cavity communicating with said rear face of the bodyv through at least one ignition aperture, a delay powder charge filling said passageway and powder iilling at least partly said cavity and said ignition aperture, and a movable and adjustable obturator member against said rear face for selectively closing said aperture for launching said projectile without self-propulsion and uncovering said aperture for ignition of the self-propelling charge powder lining the wall of said cavity and said ignition aperture, and the delay powder charge terminating in said cavity in the form of an enlarged head which increases the ignition area.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,462,135 Skinner Feb. 22V, 1949 

